Transfers hit Tavares hard; new coach energizes Eustis | 3A football

While Tavares coach Gavin Jones ponders how to replace 18 transfer players heading into the season, just down Route 441, new Eustis coach Tanner Harris is pumping some energy into a program that has had four coaches in three years. Liberty of Kissimmee also welcomes a new coach, the school’s eighth in 10 years. Jones made it known at Central Florida Media Days in July that he was not happy with the way other teams have, what he called, “poached” his players, drawing them away from Tavares. He wore a T-shirt to the event that read “WE COACH, THEY POACH,” spelling out his dismay for the state of high school football in Florida. Tavares looked to be a Class 3A contender in 2026 at the end of last season because of the abundance of talent the Bulldogs were due to return. So much for that. Highly-regarded twin linebackers Jelani and Ari Bentley left for Hawthorne, star running back Tamauri Collings bolted for The First Academy and 15 others spread out to other schools, including five to South Lake. That prompted Jones to dump South Lake from his team’s schedule. Tavares only had 27 available players for its spring game against Apopka. Jones hoped to have about 40 by the time the season starts. Eustis, which is only about five miles from Tavares, has had a different experience. Harris said he lost only one transfer as he steps into a program that needs a boost. “We got some great kids and the kids have bought in,” Harris said. “They told me in the interview that Eustis always has great athletes, you just gotta keep them all together. We’ve done that. The numbers have grown, we’ve got about 65 kids and one thing that is really impressive is that after spring training, we’re in Florida, and normally you have kids who are moving and going elsewhere and all that, but we’ve only lost one kid. “And we’re lucky to have four or five who have moved in, so we’ve kept our team intact just because these guys have bought in.” Three seasons ago, head coach Frank Scott left to take over at Leesburg, and former Eustis and UCF star Joe Burnett was hired. Burnett stepped down before 2024 preseason practice started. Eustis quickly put Darrell Harrison in charge. He coached the 2024 season, but was fired one game into 2025. The Panthers played the rest of the season under interim coach George Wade. Harris was asked what it will take to establish a foundation with the players having gone through so much turnover. “Trust. And I told them when I got here, ‘Listen guys, I know you’ve gone through a lot of things high school football players should not have to go through. But I need you to trust me “Obviously, there have been learning curves and ups and downs, but they have gotten to the point where they trust. They’re buying in and seeing results and we know we’ve gotta be patient with them.” Harris, a product of Chipley, where his father was head coach, spent three seasons as a head coach for two Alabama teams, Brilliant and Houston County. Eustis was 1-9 last year, but the Panthers had only six seniors, so they have plenty returning. Junior Josh Currie is the quarterback and junior Aree Johnson returns at running back. Seniors Jermaine Reed and Jaheem Anderson are back at receiver. Umatilla transfer RB/LB DeAndre Alfred could also help. There was only one senior on both the offensive and defensive lines in 2025, so Harris can build on that experience, as well. On defense, sophomore Jai Anderson is the top returning tackler and Jaheem Anderson goes both ways at corner. Junior defensive back KJ Fenell also returns, as does senior linebacker Amir Walker. Liberty has also struggled to keep head coaches and maintain numbers. The Chargers have had eight coaches over the past decade — five in the past six seasons. Denzel Singleton was hired this summer to replace Janko Beras, who coached one season. Singleton, in his first stint as a head coach, was previously an assistant at Strawberry Crest, near Tampa. Eustis Panthers Coach: Tanner Harris (1st year; career 7-14, 2 seasons). 2025: 1-9, missed 3A playoffs. Liberty Chargers Coach: Denzel Singleton, (1st year as head coach). 2025: 2-7 as independent. Tavares Bulldogs Coach: Gavin Jones (4th year, 18-13; career 31-31, 6 seasons). 2025: 6-5, made 3A playoffs. Chris Hays can be found on X.com@OS_ChrisHays.